All too
often, we
associate the
act of play with
goofing off -
perhaps nowhere
is this more
evident than in
the expression,
"Work hard and
play hard",
drawing a clear
line or division
between one and
the other. Yet
increasingly,
research shows
that play is, in
fact, a form of
work, or at
least a highly
beneficial
activity,
essential to
healthy human
development on a
multitude of
levels.
Indigo can help
shed some light
on the subject
of play - what
it means, and
why it's
beneficial - not
just from an
emotional
development
perspective, but
physical, social
and cognitive as
well.
"It is
paradoxical that
many educators
and parents
still
differentiate
between a time
for learning and
a time for play
without seeing
the vital
connection
between them."
Leo Buscaglia,
author, educator
Emotional
Development &
Play
Play, in its
many shapes and
forms, may seem
frivolous, but
it's actually a
powerful medium
for expressing
thoughts and
feelings, as
children feel
empowered
through play.
It's also a good
way to express
typically
negative
feelings in a
positive way, by
working through
conflicting
feelings in a
way that's fun
or seemingly
unconstrained.
Additionally,
play is a way to
make sense of
the world,
enabling
children to
smooth out the
bumps and kinks
presented by
real life.
Research has
also
demonstrated a
direct
physiological
link between
play and reduced
anxiety, and is
seen as highly
beneficial in
helping shape
self-image and
self-confidence.
Physical
Development &
Play
When discussing
physical
development and
motor skills,
there are
essentially two
types: Fine
Motor Skills,
which
encompasses
specialized
manual
dexterity; and
Gross Motor
Skills, which
generally refers
to overall
physical
ability. Again,
research
suggests that
play is
essential to
developing both
fine and gross
motor skills.
Jumping,
running,
swinging - even
falling -
enables children
to take control
over their
bodies. This
physical aspect
of play also
helps children
establish
spatial
relationships,
as well as hone
their hand-eye
coordination -
they're
constantly
having to judge
how far, how
fast , how
heavy, how hard
and so on. Even
seemingly
lightweight
physical
activities, such
as drawing,
painting or
writing are
important.
Researchers
often cite the
fact that
children are
either looking
at the big
picture or
simply one small
aspect. Through
the simple
physical act of
taking things
apart and
putting them
back together,
play provides
the venue for
exploring the
causal link
between the two
opposite ends of
the spectrum,
while
discovering
everything in
between.
Social
Development &
Play
Particularly
when playing
with others -
winning, losing,
building,
destroying,
conquering,
failing -
children are
able to see what
it's like to be
in another
person's shoes.
Play also
provides the
perfect venue
for gaining a
sneak preview of
the adult life
that lies ahead
of them. Again,
there are clear
causal
relationships
established
between playing
nice, being the
bully, being
overly shy or
withdrawn. As
such, children
learn to deal
with their own
feelings, as
well as those of
others. They
also acquire
essential
skills, such as
negotiating,
competing,
resolving
conflicts,
fairness,
patience,
compassion and
cooperation.
Through play,
children learn
the importance
of developing
friendships and
relationships,
while gaining a
sense of
self-worth and
an appreciation
for others.
Cognitive
Development &
Play
By exposing
children to a
multitude of
experiences,
play actually
enriches and
promotes the
thought process.
In a safe and
controlled
environment,
children learn
and grow through
creating,
experimenting
and planning. In
other words,
play is a great
way to pull
together all the
things a child
knows and try
stuff out,
thereby learning
from experience.
Additionally,
symbolic play,
such as role
playing, is
thought to be
vital in
developing
abstract thought
essential to
creative problem
solving. There's
even evidence to
suggest that
play promotes a
kind of
cognitive
flexibility -
the ability to
jump from one
thought to
another, or
juggle multiple
thoughts
simultaneously -
much the way
adults will
"talk through
things" to
arrive at a
conclusion.
During play,
children grasp
the concepts of
categories and
hierarchies and
learn to form
generalizations
and probable
outcomes of
various
situations.
Simply put, they
realize there
are lots of
activities to
choose from,
they prefer
certain kinds
over others and
the last time
they stacked the
house of cards
too high, it
collapsed -
experiences
essential to
acquiring logic
and planning
skills.
